Lewis L. Osterlund
The foreign born citizens of Crawford county have done much to advance the agricultural possibilities of Iowa and prominent among these may be mentioned Lewis L. Osterlund, a farmer and stock-raiser of Milford township.
He was born near Stockholm, Sweden, August 9, 1851, a son of August and Christina C. Osterlund, who were farmers in their native country, where they both died when Lewis L. was quite young. The latter obtained his education in the public schools of Sweden and then followed farming until twenty-one years old. Hearing of the greater advantages offered to young men in the United States, he decided to better his condition and in 1872 emigrated to this country.
He first located in Illinois but remained there but a few months and then removed to Clinton, Iowa, where his first occupation was logging on the Mississippi river and working in the lumberyards of the Clinton Lumber Company. There he remained for seven years, living economically, and by saving his earnings he was enabled to buy eighty acres of land in Milford township, Crawford county, upon which in 1879 he began practical farming. Owing to his former experience in the old country he was successful from the beginning, erected a modem house and made other needed improvements upon his land, which was located on section 23. This he sold in 1892 and purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 1, later buying three hundred and twenty additional acres on section 2, making a total of four hundred and forty acres, which today ranks among the finest improved land in Crawford county and where he carries on general farming and stock-raising. He makes a specialty of shorthorn Durham cattle and feeds both cattle and hogs for the market.
In August, 1876, Mr. Osterlund married Miss Nellie Olson, of Clinton, Iowa. Her parents Nels and Hannah Olson, were natives of Sweden and came to this country in 1873, taking up their residence in South Dakota, where the father died in 1906, being still survived by the mother.
To Mr. and Mrs. Osterlund have been born the following eleven children: Laura, now Mrs. Robert Hawley, of Crawford county; Rose, the widow of Charles Maynard; Charles, who was born December 2, 1880, and is now residing in Nevada; Olga. now Mrs. Patrick Gallagher; Arthur, born June 15, 1885. now living in Cottonwood, South Dakota; Lewis, Jr., born August 16, 1888, also living in South Dakota; Roy, born April 4, 1890; Myrtle; Walter, born June 18, 1894; Lily and Carrie. The younger members of the family are still at home.
Mr. Osterlund has always upheld the principles of the republican party and has efficiently filled the office of township trustee for two terms. He has also served for several years as school director and was twice appointed by Governor Shaw to the fanners convention, once at Boston and once at Colorado Springs. Fraternally he is a worthy member of Vail Lodge, No. 422, A. F. & A. M. and Chapter No. 89, R. A. M., of Dunlap, Iowa. Religiously he is a consistent member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Osterlund is a worthy example of all that goes to make an exemplary citizen of the country of his adoption, and his abilities as an agriculturist as well as his personal characteristics have won for him recognition and the approbation of the community wherein he resides.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.